What is an mzML file?

mzML is the standard open XML format for mass spectrometry data from proteomics and metabolomics instruments. Each file holds one or more spectra with m/z and intensity measurements.

What does the PNG show?

Each spectrum becomes a row in a heatmap with m/z on the horizontal axis and intensity as color. A file with a single spectrum is rendered as an m/z versus intensity line plot instead.

Is this a replacement for data analysis tools?

No. You get a preview picture for quick viewing and sharing. Raw spectrum values and metadata stay in the original mzML file.

Which encodings are supported?

m/z and intensity arrays stored as 32-bit or 64-bit floats, with or without zlib compression, in mzML 1.1 files.

Convert mzML mass spectra to PNG online

Have an mzML mass spectrometry file that will not open in a normal photo app? This page renders it as a PNG you can view, share, or drop into a document.

How to convert mzML to PNG

Upload an mzML file up to 40 MB.
Press Convert file and download the PNG.

What you get

A single PNG image of your spectra:

Multiple spectra are drawn as a heatmap: each scan is one row, m/z runs left to right, and brighter colors mean higher intensity.
A file with one spectrum is drawn as an m/z versus intensity line plot.
Intensity is normalized across the file, with faint peaks boosted so the picture is viewable without specialized software.

When this helps

Checking whether a run captured the peaks you expected
Sharing a quick preview of LC-MS or shotgun-proteomics data
Adding a spectrum figure to slides or lab notes without a viewer that speaks mzML

Operation details

What happens: The mzML XML is parsed; each spectrum's m/z and intensity arrays are read (32- or 64-bit floats, zlib-compressed or not) and rasterized to a PNG heatmap or single-spectrum line plot.

Inputs: mzML 1.1 up to 40 MB.

Output: One PNG preview. Intensities are normalized across the file so faint peaks remain visible.

Lossy? Visualization only — raw mzML values stay in the source file; the PNG is a downsampled picture, not a data export.

Common failures: Unsupported encodings, corrupt XML, or files with no readable spectra.

Use when: You want a shareable spectrum snapshot before opening ProteoWizard or vendor software.